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Don’t we imitate or copy others at all? Let’s ask this question to ourselves. A lot of times, we hear typical sentence that an individual makes – “If I couldn’t match pace and manners of world or people around me, I would be left behind or rejected.”
Same sentence may repeatedly boom in many heads. Fear of lagging
behind or living at our own risk has been hard coded in our
unconscious minds. How imitation came into existence?

Imitation makes every person look alike.

Imitating is to perform, maneuver, behave or adapt to situations like most others do. That’s it, folks! We have defined it so simply. But it’s not over yet. Next question comes that why imitation became valid and how it programmed in our genes. Hard to believe but imitation has to do with survival.

Today, living is quite easy as compared to what it was thousands and millions years back. Our ancestors used to leave in jungles; in dramatic and dangerous conditions. Their entire life was surrounded by fiercest predators lurking behind trees or tall grass. Also there were rival tribes fitting and killing over region, reproduction and resources. In a result, living alone was itself a risk to life.

We often watch a terrifying scene of a predator hunting down a prey to eaton scientific television channels. Predator like lion chases a stag, grabs and kills it to death. Despite of power, speed and tactics; almost all predators can concentrate on just single prey at a time and not the whole herd. Predators choose a prey that stays alone (separated from herd) appearing quite different, easy to hunt and most weak.On the other hand, coming together and appearing - acting like each other multiply chances of living. Preys adopt dramatic strategy that defends them against predators.

They stand or stay very close to each other, move at same speed or direction, make loud noise together, synchronize body movements and make same kind of gestures or expressions.

Ultimately, a whole group appears like just one big and powerful prey. Predator only can think for finding another prey rather than wasting time and energy to hunt nothing. Adopting similar body colors, patterns and ornaments is core part of same strategy.

For ongoing with fewer problems and achieving undo-able, our ancestors had to work together and imitate each other as much as possible.They had to talk in same language - dialect, adopt same manners - methods, build houses or paint - decorate bodies alike, use same weapons - tools, share resources - ideas, eat - dance together, smelland create sounds alike. All these things gave them strength to stand against their rival tribes also.

'Uniformal' Imitation

Amazingly, human race is the most imitating species among the other creatures. One initiates and other follow it by most.

Fragrance of fresh flowers or ripening fruits, aroma of delicious food or hot coffee, scent of soil after first shower or burning incense sticks…all alluring and mesmerizing. Their unique smell draws our attention towards them in no time, even if we can’t see, touch or taste those things immediately. We can instantly judge quality, freshness and even taste by just smelling them.

Quite unclear to understand but we all follow our noses. Smell is so special for our sensory experience that it unconsciously regulates our mood. More surprisingly, it rules on our love life too. Wondering why?

Each one of us has unique smell even though we can’t whiff it easily. As like finger print, you may also call it as smell print. More specifically, it is called as pheromone. Pheromones work by two ways in our intimate life - first for connecting with persons that are close to us and other for finding - retaining romantic partners and reproduction.

Body smell has links with our genes and heredity. In very close blood relationship, body smell of one person is almost identical with other. This amazing natural gift creates enduring bond among family members. Newborn child feels easy in presence of her mother around. You experience warmth and closeness when you gave hug to your parents. Your affection soars when you cuddle your child in arms. It’s very common experience for most of us.

Someone passes by and you suddenly feel strange pull towards the person with no clear clues. Person we meet and interact with casually, one day knocks on your heart. On the other hand, two persons can’t think about shifting informal relation into romantic stir even seemingly attracted towards each other and observing strong solicitation, smiles and signaling from either side.Beyond physical look, does body smell control our love life?

Body smell attracts opposite genders towards each other but conditionally. Courtship and company is vital in everybody’s life so equally crucial is the match between both partners best possible. Breeding between members of close blood relation leads to deformations and disorders in child. Male and female of dissimilar genes can give birth to more healthy children.

That’s why body smell of person belonging to dissimilar genetic profile appeals the most and lingers. Most people would confess that he/she didn’t smell right or not at all to them. Partners with dissimilar MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) are likely to stay together longer.

Hugging is an integral part of most cultures and societies world wide. Animals too do hug each other. Hugging goes beyond formality to boost intimacy and sympathy. It’s performed to express warmth, protectiveness, brotherhood, support,and affection towards each other. In all kinds of close relationships, we hug each other. Hug is offered or received when a person truly wants to be cherished or relieved at deeper level by someone else.

Why hugging someone is so magical, heartfelt, and mesmerizing? Because itis strongly related with our physiology and psychological defense system against adversities.

Do you remember the last time you crossed arms over your chest while feeling insecure? Touched, covered, and scratched your neck under threat? Stood by pushing your back against wall while feeling despaired?All these body parts are the most vulnerable so any harm or injuries to them would lead to serious impairment or death.

While hugging, we firmly touch chest and neck of other person with same body parts of our own. Also, we wrap our arms over unprotected back of each other. By doing this, we offer each other the same security and soothing which is provided by our parents or elders during childhood.

Hugging is the most defenseless and welcoming approach of both persons towards each other, unconsciously saying, “We are mutually and voluntarily exposing and touching most vulnerable and sensitive part of each others body. We don’t hold any defense. We protect each other (by covering back by arms) and we are very intimate, trustworthy, and affectionate.”

Hugging each other might remain an outlandish or old-school ritual for touch reluctant people of modern generation but they won't understand the importance of same until they receive warm hug and feel its power personally.